Can opener for key strip cans



June 25, 1957 E. 1.. LARSON CAN OPENER FOR KEY STRIP CANS Filed Dec. 23, 1954 INVENTOR. azlzinzzzzeam United States Patent 4 O CAN OPENER FOR KEY STRIP CANS Edwin L. Larson, Wahpeton, N. Dale Application December 23, 1954, Serial No. 477,368

1 Claim. (Cl. 22047) This invention relates to a can opener, and more particularly to a can opener for use with key strip cans.

The object of the invention is to provide a can opener which will permit key winding strips to be quickly and easily removed so that such cans can be readily opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener for key strip cans which will eliminate the possibility of having the strip accidentally spiral off of the key and wherein opening of the can can be quickly accomplished with the greatest of case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opener for key strip cans which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the can opener of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the can opener.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the can opener showing the can opener being moved into position to grip the extending edge of the strip.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts broken away and in section showing the use of the can opener for starting the removal of the strip from the can.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view illustrating the use of the can opener in pulling or tearing a strip from the can.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown a can opener for key strip cans wherein there is provided a first body member which is indicated generally by the numeral 10, Figure l. The first body member 10 includes a first portion 11 which is adapted to be engaged by the palm of the users hand, and the body member 10 also includes a flat intermediate section 12. Extending from the section 12 is a jaw 14, and the jaw 14 terminates or is provided with a head 15 adjacent its end.

The head 15 is provided with a transverse arcuate groove 16, and the portion of the head 15 adjacent the groove 16 is provided with a curved shoulder 17 for a purpose to be later described.

Extending from the head 15 and formed integral therewith or secured thereto is an arcuate flange 18 which has an edge thereof sharpened or beveled as at 19. By means of the sharpened edge 19, the sealing strip 20 can be initially started or moved from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 3 whereby the strip 20 can be subsequently removed. The strip 20 is used for maintaining the cover on the can 21, and the can 21 may be used for holding any suitable material such as grocery items as for example coffee.

The can opener of the present invention further includes a second body member which is indicated generally by the numeral 22, and the body member 22 includes a 2,797,019 Patented June 25, 1957 first portion 23 which is arranged below the portion 11 of the body member 10, Figure 1. A curved lip 24 extends from an end of the portion 23, and the body member 22 further includes a flat intermediate section 25 which is pivotally connected to the flat section 12 by means of a pivot pin or rivet 26.

The body member 22 further includes a jaw 27 which terminates in a head 28, and extending transversely from the head 28 is a prong 29 which is mounted for movement into and out of the groove 16 in the head 15. When manual pressure is exerted on the portions 11 and 23, the prong 29 will move into the groove 16 to thereby clamp or clinch the strip 20 therebetween as shown in Figure 6 so that the strip can be readily pulled from the can 21. The curved shoulder 17 prevents the strip from breaking so that the entire strip can be readily removed.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a can opener for key strip cans. Heretofore such cans have been opened by means of a key which comes attached to the can for that purpose. The opener of the present invention will open such cans as the can 21 quickly and easily whenever such cans are equipped with a strip such as the strip 20. In an average home several cans of this type may be opened daily and this is a difiicult task as well as a slow process. For example in winding the key strip from a coifee can, there is required about ten revolutions of winding or about twenty half turns where the key is held and released for each turn. Furthermore, care must be used to prevent having the strip spiral off the key, since if this happens it will stop the process of opening until the strip is reeled back and rewound evenly again before the process of opening can be resumed. The'opener of the present invention eliminates these hazards or shortcomings and the opening process is quick and can be accomplished without any mishaps. In use to open a can such as the can 21, the end of the strip 20 is bent back until the seal is broken and then the strip is torn from the can as shown in Figure 6 with one even pull. As shown in the drawings the can opener has the appearance of a pair of tongs with clinching jaws. The prong 29 engages in the groove 16 in the lower jaw 14 and when these jaws are pressed together over the starting end of the key strip 20, the strip will be held firmly until the process of opening has been completed. The opening process is begun by bending the loose end of the key strip 20 out from the side of the can as shown in Figure 3, from the position shown in Figure 4. The sharpened edge 19 of the rocker or flange 18 is used to pry the strip 20 from its seat. Next, the free end of the strip 20 is placed between the jaws of the opener as shown in Figure 3 and after being clinched as shown in Figure 6, the strip can be bent back until the seal is broken. Next, the opener is gripped firmly and the strip is pulled off the can as shown in Figure 6. The portion 11 is held against the palm of the hand, and the portion 23 has a curved end or lip 24 which provides a better pulling grip by the fingers when removing the key strip from a can. The rounded shoulder 17 adjacent the groove 16 prevents the end of the key strip from being cut or broken while being bent back. When the key strip is being pulled 011 the can, there is no danger of the key strip breaking since its edges have been previously scored for even winding and since this is its weakest point, the strip comes loose easily along these scored lines. It is to be understood that changes in size and shape can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

In a can opener for key strip cans, first and second body members pivotally connected together, said first body member including a first portion terminating in a flat intermediate section, a jaw extending from said flat intermediate section and terminating in an enlarged head, said head being provided with a transverse groove having a rounded bottom, a portion of said head adjacent said groove being shaped to define an arcuate shoulder for preventing the end of the key strip from being cut or broken while being bent back, said second body member vincluding a first portion adjacent one endv thereof for engagement with the hand, a flat intermediate section extending from the first portion on said second body member, a pivot pin pivotally connecting said flat intermediate sections together, a jaw extending from said intermediate section on said second body member, said last named jaw terminating in a transverse prong for movement into and out of said groove whereby when the prong engages in said groove when the jaws are pressed together over starting end of a key strip, the strip will be held firmly until the process of opening the can has been completed, a curved flange extending from said head, an edge of said flange being sharpened for prying the strip from its seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

